<p>Another caveat about the idea of a sleeping bag weekend. Remember that CMU will be taking at TINY number of kids…and there can be a danger in “falling in love” with ANY bfa school when odds are so tough. We did campus visits etc (she wanted to have at least seen everywhere she applied, we got everywhere but Guthrie Minn) but tried to stay away from other “potential student activities” at the bfa schools until after auditions (some of which were on campus) and after acceptances/rejections. That way she would spend time with people who WANTED her… she did go to a couple at her BA schools, but the odds were different for those…</p>
<p>@amtc my D and I attended a show during auditions and she was so appalled by the behavior of students at the performance that it fell out of her top picks and she could have cared less about the results of her audition. She knew it would be a lottery winning if she got in and it was an early favorite but at that point she decided she didn’t want to win the lottery. She had also fine tuned what she was looking for in a school and she realized as great as a reputation as they have it was no longer a fit for her. </p>
<p>CMU was taken off my D’s list after a tour this summer. It seemed to us that MT is a bit of an afterthought. There was also a lot of talk by the student tour guide about getting into the shows with the big budgets. Just didn’t feel like a very welcoming atmosphere. Didn’t break my heart to cross it off the list with a high $60k price tag and very little merit $$$. Very glad we took the time to visit.</p>
<p>Just finished another spread sheet.Woohoo!!! This one was for a set of auditions coming up in November. My D was even impressed when she looked at it, either that or her acting skills were highly engaged at the time. The test was having her read it and understand it. When she said, “wow, mom! I will know exactly what audition to report to at what time, in what room, who the auditor(s) will be, what each audition’s requirements are and what stuff I have to turn in to each school” it made the entire Saturday I devoted to creating it worthwhile. Then we went for Mexican. I just had to get away from the computer and have the biggest Margarita I could find! I was yummy! <:-P One task completed. Next!</p>
<p>Getting there on applications – what a lot of paperwork. D is finishing #9 today and her MT supplement for another program. #10 (Penn State) should open tomorrow. Then, we wait for prescreen responses and audition dates. Oh, and bug the counselor to get the school reports in and the recommenders to follow through on recommendations. This will just leave her two safety schools which we are planning for the end of Sept. or early October. And, the money keeps rolling out for every application fee and audition fee etc.! Just anxious to get this show on the road. An awful lot rides on one week in February! A little nervous about that, but, oh well. </p>
<p>We had arranged to record prescreens this weekend, but D came down with a terrible cold and literally can’t sing a note. We’re 2 weeks into the school year, rehearsals start this week, ACT in 2 weeks, 2 essays almost done, most applications started but not completed. Teachers have agreed to write recommendations, still waiting for some schools to open applications and post audition dates. For about 1 week in the summer I felt like we were on top of things. Now it feels like there is still way too much to do, and no time to do it in. And yeah, I feel like we have a lot of eggs in the Unified basket. A lot of things about this ride are scary.</p>
<p>Glad I’m not the only one feeling that way! Thought I had tons of time, but now that school has started I’m feeling under the gun! Prescreens videoed but not yet edited and we still need to shoot a dance segment. Most applications began and tentative audition schedule mapped out. Need to hire a tutor for SAT in October and get D really going on essays. She has just done an idea brainstorming session, but nothing outlined yet. All those little details beyond our control (recommendations, transcripts) REALLY make me nervous. Hoping to get a couple of auditions on the books for November, just praying all the details come together! We all need to collectively pray for a mild winter & spring!</p>
<p>Seems like you all are much further ahead than I was a year ago. You are doing great!!! 
It will all come together and work out. Come March you will be twiddling your thumbs trying to figure out what to do with all your new-found free time! </p>
<p>I am praying for that mild winter and spring! D powered through the Penn State app. today and uploaded her last prescreen. Phew. Just in the nick of time – Hello Dolly opens at our local community theatre next week and HS musical (Into the Woods) auditions are this week. Just hoping ten schools and two safeties are going to be enough! Here we go folks – fasten your collective seat belts!</p>
<p>I think everyone is farther ahead than this family! Last year when my DD14 was doing college apps she handled most everything by herself - pretty much banned me from any involvement. 
With DD15, I don’t think there is any way that a parent couldn’t be involved … the scheduling alone is overwhelming. </p>
<p>She opted out of her fall HS musical … it’s the first high school production (there are 3 a year) that she won’t be doing. Not for time constraints, but for mental health reasons. I will just say people are crazy and leave it at that.</p>
<p>Instead, she’ll be doing The Mystery of Edwin Drood at a community theater this fall. It’s a MUCH better environment for her … she’s the youngest in the cast, but they all treat her as a peer. She much happier there than she is at the high school. Which is very sad in a way … but it is what it is.</p>
<p>Can I also just say I have no idea how you guys are coordinating this slew of applications and auditions? I’m taking a stab at it again today and I am so completely overwhelmed. </p>
<p>@KaMaMom I totally understand. Most of our kids are used to the professional environment of theatre, and High School usually doesnt operate that way. My daughter is always MUCH happier during the professional productions-from auditions, rehearsals to performances!<br>
About the “organizing” and keeping things together–you should see my dining room table! File folders and check lists everywhere! So far we have submitted apps and writing supplements to 9 common app schools, and one regular app! Only 9 more to go!</p>
<p>I understand as well. My D has never done theater at her high school and there is nothing to feel bad about! My D is lamenting the fact that last year she was in a professional production at the time and this year she is studying for the ACT. Considerably less fun!!</p>
<p>LOL. Last year @ this time, my son had never been in a play, musical, dance, acting class, choir, band, or anything. It was all sports, all the time. In March, he got the Lead in the Musical and here we are. Ta Da. LOL</p>
<p>@KaMaMom My son had a folder for every school in a different color. He wrote on the front of each every step that had to be completed, with a due date and put a square where he could CHECK off that the step was completed. Inside was a printed copy every schools audition requirements. I had a spreadsheet of every school in the order he wanted to audition. Not by importance, one was driven by a master class offerred on one day (Wright States, I highly recommend it), the other friends of his from a summer program were attending and any conflict dates drove some.</p>
<p>We lived by the spreadsheet - I ended up with one spreadsheet file with multiple tabs - for whatever was the next thing I needed to track! It helped my D a lot to have all the info laid out for her.</p>
<p>@SJBmab Wow! Your D sounds a lot like mine. My D is only a junior but I am in stress mode trying to come up with a list of schools. She would like to double major or at least minor as well. Although there are BFAs in a liberal arts setting, I’ve been told a BA program would be more suitable for what she wants to do. However, many of the BA programs she isn’t interested in. -SIGH- I’ve suggested Catholic University, Wagner, James Madison and American University. She doesn’t seem overly excited but I think we will have to actually talk to someone for her to actually be excited about a program.</p>
<p>Hi Gang. Does anyone know if University of Miami has a prescreen? Dates? All the info on site has last year’s dates. It says you “may” use accepted. Does this mean prescreen is optional? Ugh!
Frustrated/cross-eyed MT mom probs! </p>
<p>Sorry, I don’t have any info. on U of Miami, but it got me thinking…</p>
<p>Do any schools require monologues in the pre-screen, or are they usually just for vocals?</p>
<p>Yes Some schools want 1 monologue, some want 2 contrasting</p>